Google Wallet Lands in Nigeria With Tap-to-Pay for Android
Android and Wear OS users in Nigeria can download the app from the Play Store and load supported bank cards for store payments, in-app purchases and online checkout.
Google Wallet has launched in Nigeria. Android and Wear OS users can get the app from the Play Store, and it brings Google Pay with it.
Setting up requires a supported card from a participating bank or financial institution. Once a card is added, it can be used for contactless purchases at store terminals through Tap to pay, and for transactions inside apps and on websites.
The app does more than payments. Loyalty cards, event tickets and boarding passes can be stored alongside payment cards, so a user carries them on the phone instead of hunting through separate apps.
Security runs through several protective layers, with encryption built to industry standards applied to financial data in every transaction, according to Google. If a handset is lost or stolen, Find My Device lets the owner lock it remotely, set a new password or wipe personal information from the phone.
For Nigerian consumers, a first-party wallet from Google pushes the phone closer to being the only thing needed at a checkout counter — though how useful it proves will depend on how many banks sign up and how widely contactless terminals are deployed.